Team Nigeria players were handed a tough draw at the 2016 ITTF Junior Circuit tagged Egypt Open, which serves off on Wednesday March 23 at the Cairo International Stadium.
The four-man team including the Coach, Dotun Omoniyi was sponsored to the tournament by the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, who believes the young players should be exposed early to international tournaments.
In the boys’ cadet singles event, Abayomi Animasahun has been drawn in Group 14 alongside Egypt’s duo of Mohamed Abdelghany and Omar Allam, while Amadi Omeh is in Group 15 with Egypt’s Mohamed Elzaki and Karim Kandil.
In group 16, Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke and Sunday Akomolafe have been drawn in same group with Egypt’s pair of Yousef Saied and Mahmoud Mahdy.
In the mini cadet boys’ singles event, Animasahun will battle against Egypt’s duo of Ziad Elshawa and Amr Mahfouz in Group three.
In the junior boys’ grouping, the trio of Solanke, Akomolafe and Omeh will battle their Egyptian counterparts on Wednesday March 23 for places in the second round of the championship.
In his remarks before the team’s departure on Tuesday March 22, President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi charged the players to be good ambassadors and also make the country proud.
“I know you are already champions and you should also see this chance as an opportunity to prove yourself and ensure that you display the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition. I wish you well and try and give your best,” Oshodi said.
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